Naked Raku vase 1

Well this was a dreamy process and I so love the entirely uncontrolled outcome. For this vase I polished the unfired piece to a glassy finish using, would you believe, a lightbulb.
After bisque firing you dip the bowl into a clay slip, and then into a thin glaze. The next day you fire it to 800C and take it out and quickly put it in a metal bin of flammable material. It all blazes up, you pop the lid on, and the smoke penetrates the cracking slip/glaze. After it cools you douse in water and peel off the remains. The smokey, high intensity process is reflected in the three dimensional smokey imprinted mystery of what emerges. Polished with a mix of waxes, the bowl glows gently on the shelf.
17 cm tall, 12.5 wide.
The nature of the process means these pots are not water tight, but suit dried arrangements, or can just be an art object. Can be treated with a stone sealer, but I prefer not to risk it.